How to Travel Europe on a Budget: Complete 2025 Guide
Everything you need to know about travelling Europe without breaking the bank — from cheap flights to free attractions.
Budget Travel in Europe Is Still Very Much Possible
Despite rising costs across the continent, Europe remains very accessible to budget travellers who know where to look. With the right strategies, you can explore amazing cities, eat well and have unforgettable experiences without draining your savings.
Getting There: Cheap Flights
The key to cheap flights is flexibility. If you can travel mid-week and outside school holidays, you'll find significantly lower fares. Use our flight search tool to compare prices across dates. Budget carriers like Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air connect hundreds of European cities for under €50 one-way.
Pro tip: Set price alerts for your routes 6–8 weeks before travel — that's typically when the best deals appear.
Getting Around: Buses and Trains
Overnight buses and trains let you save on accommodation while covering distance. FlixBus connects over 2,500 destinations across Europe from as little as €5. Use our bus route search to find routes from your destination. Rail passes like the Interrail Global Pass offer unlimited train travel and are great value for multi-country trips.
Where to Stay
Hostels remain the cornerstone of budget travel in Europe. A bed in a dorm typically costs €15–30 per night in most cities. Look for hostels with free breakfast — that alone can save €5–10 per day. In Eastern Europe (Prague, Budapest, Kraków, Warsaw), even private rooms in quality hostels can cost under €40.
For longer stays, apartments on Airbnb or local rental sites often work out cheaper than hotels, especially when split between a group.
Food on a Budget
- Markets and supermarkets: Pick up fresh bread, cheese, charcuterie and fruit from local markets for a fraction of restaurant prices
- Lunch menus: Many European restaurants offer a set lunch (menú del día in Spain, plat du jour in France) for €8–12 — much cheaper than dinner
- Street food: Falafels in Berlin, zapiekanka in Kraków, pastéis de nata in Lisbon
- Self-catering: Accommodation with a kitchen lets you cook simple meals and save significantly
Free Attractions Across Europe
Many of Europe's greatest attractions are free or very affordable:
- Most national museums in the UK are free
- The Vatican Museums are free on the last Sunday of the month
- Berlin's street art scene, parks and memorials cost nothing
- Amsterdam's Vondelpark and Jordaan neighbourhood make for a free afternoon
- Prague's Old Town Square and Castle District can be explored without paying entry
Budget by City
Daily budget estimates (accommodation + food + transport + one paid attraction):
- 🇵🇱 Kraków, Poland: €30–45/day
- 🇭🇺 Budapest, Hungary: €35–50/day
- 🇵🇹 Lisbon, Portugal: €50–70/day
- 🇪🇸 Barcelona, Spain: €60–80/day
- 🇫🇷 Paris, France: €80–110/day
- 🇨🇭 Zürich, Switzerland: €120–160/day
Use Our Free Tools
Before you go, use our currency converter to understand your spending power, our budget calculator to plan total costs, and our packing list to make sure you don't overpack.